Hyperthreading with IS7 in Windows 2000

Shambla · Jul 25, 2003

Hi all, after ironing out most of the random crashes with my IS7 system I have started tweaking it (as any Abit board should be). The main problem I have noticed is that Hyperthreading is not enabled in windows, though the POST screen shows it as enabled - I have updated the IS7's BIOS to 1.4 and I am running Win2K with service pack 4 so that my 160GB drive is recognised properly. Is anyone here running 2K with a Hyperthreading CPU, as I am pretty sure I read on a forum that only XP properly supports HT (dunno if this is true or not). The other thing is that because I was getting so many crashes while trying to get windows installed, I may have had HT disabled during setup to try and get the system stable. I am under the impression that this would mean Windows setup would have installed the uniprocessor kernel rather than the multi-processor kernal, so could this be the cause? Thanks in advance,

Shambla

R. J. Salvi · Jul 25, 2003

Yes, I'm running Win2K with HT enabled. Do a CAD (ctrl,alt,del), open Task manager and click on the performance tab. If you see two grids under CPU usage, HT is enabled. If not, you'll have to go into Device Manager and install the multiprocessor driver.

TomG · Jul 25, 2003

I don't know that Win2K supports HT. I do know that XP recognized and installed support for HT right away on first boot after installation of an HT cpu...

TomG · Jul 25, 2003

good to know that 2K supports it.

Chad Oftedal · Jul 25, 2003

Here is a Microsoft document describing Hyperthreading in the different server operating systems.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/evaluation/performance/reports/hyperthread.asp

"Shambla" wrote:

Hi all, after ironing out most of the random crashes with my IS7 system I have started tweaking it (as any Abit board should be). The main problem I have noticed is that Hyperthreading is not enabled in windows, though the POST screen shows it as enabled - I have updated the IS7's BIOS to 1.4 and I am running Win2K with service pack 4 so that my 160GB drive is recognised properly. Is anyone here running 2K with a Hyperthreading CPU, as I am pretty sure I read on a forum that only XP properly supports HT (dunno if this is true or not). The other thing is that because I was getting so many crashes while trying to get windows installed, I may have had HT disabled during setup to try and get the system stable. I am under the impression that this would mean Windows setup would have installed the uniprocessor kernel rather ...

R. J. Salvi · Jul 25, 2003

I don't think Win2K has quite as many optimizations as XP, but it does unofficially support HT. Win2K's license supports dual processors, but it doesn't distinguish the difference between a logical or physical processor...so the first two CPUs it sees, are all you get. XP otoh not only supports dual physical processors, but supports them in a HT configuration as well.

Every now and then Win2K hiccups by hanging on a thread (no pun intended

with HT enabled, but the CPU(s) sure do benchmark faster than hell!

TomG · Jul 25, 2003

good to know...

Mark Hallam · Jul 26, 2003

Yeah, got it all up and running in 2K after installing the multiprocessor driver in device manager. I haven't had a chance to do any proper stress testing (a couple of hours solid gaming should do it), so I don't know if it has had an impact on stability. I'll let you guys know if I find anything of particul interest.

Shambla

"TomG" wrote:

good to know...

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... it doesn't distinguish the difference between a logical or physical processor...so the first two CPUs it sees, are all you get. XP otoh not only supports dual physical processors, but supports them in a HT configuration as well.

Every now and then Win2K hiccups by hanging on a thread (no pun intended with HT enabled, but the CPU(s) sure do benchmark faster than hell!

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...

R. Pazderski · Jul 26, 2003

I loaded up the HAL with ACPI Multi-processor under Win2K-SP4 on a IC7, turned on HT and ran a quick bench mark. The machine slowed to a crawl. However, there are other HAL Multi-processor configurations one could try but they appear to be machine specific or for older machines.

This is not to say that on a specific machine running specific software such as CAD that there might not be some advantaged in running Win2K in Mult-processor mode on a Uni-processor HT platform. It is hard to evaluate without having the software at hand.

It my understanding that the only (2) most popular OSes that (Fully) support HT are WinXP and LINUX. Even if MS does release SP5 for Win2K, I doubt they will upgrade the code to fully support (2) Virtual HT processors even though WinXP has not met upgrade sales expectations as MS had hoped.

It is strange that WinXP supporting HT was released a good while before Intel released HT chipsets and processors. Who says the "Big Guys" don't talk to each other in the "dark of the night" ? (LOL)

Regards,

Rick P.
============================>>>>>>>
"TomG" wrote:

I don't know that Win2K supports HT. I do know that XP recognized and installed support for HT right away on first boot after installation of an HT cpu...

R. J. Salvi · Jul 27, 2003

Hi Rick,

I don't know what benchmark program you're using, but I've found that SiSoft Sandra was a bit quirky with Win2K (SP4) and HT enabled. I say "was" because the batteries in my cordless mouse were low and I think that was causing problems.

I'd made mention of "hiccups" in a previous post -- usually the system hanging during rapid mouse clicking of programs -- but again, the batteries in my cordless mouse were low. After replacing them, the system seems to be as stable as a uniprocessor system. I'll keep an eye on things and if I can remember, I'll post a follow-up after living with the config. a while. So far though, CPU benchmarks show the machine is hauling ass.

In fact, anyone in this group using Win2K (SP?) with HT enabled, I'd be very interested (as I'm sure others will) to hear your experences with it. And if you come across any instabilities, I'd love to know what tasks and/or programs you were using at the time. TIA.

P.S. All installations so far have been clean installs with HT enabled in the BIOS and Win2K had no trouble recognizing HT when installing. I've also had no problems switching back and forth between multi- and uniprocessor configurations. fwiw...